Monday, August 10, 2015

Nara Kitchen & Co @ Damansara Uptown

Nara mostly lives up to its moniker - a Greek girl's name that means 'happy' - with brightly upbeat vibes & a sprightly selection of feel-good food that might make it one of Damansara Uptown's most fashionable weekend destinations in the months ahead.

Nara's recipes are geared for the next evolution of the Klang Valley's brunch-hunting demands: With the likes of Eggs Benedict having lost their novelty & lustre, what will propel the next F&B trends? Nara's ambitions sprint toward a sharp sense of sophistication; our favourite order here is the tuna tartar with organic egg mayo, tomato salsa, wasabi guacamole & garlic butter toast (RM29), with compellingly controlled complexities - both lively & mellow - that play harmoniously off one another.

For heartier meals, Nara's philosophy of wholesome nourishment is well typified by the Masala Shrimp (RM33), a fibre-rich foldover with spiced prawns & bell peppers with fresh veggies in warm garlic tortilla served with house-made mint yoghurt. We like how flavours here are robust but not overpoweringly punchy - try the Crunchy Chicken wrap (RM29) with Asian slaw, crispy noodles & a satay-like peanut sauce. As made very clear by the expertise in its execution, Nara isn't run by first-timers; it's the newest member of the high-powered family of businesses on this street that includes The Good Batch & Hyde At 53M.

The sole item we'd skip is the Waffle Fries Poutine, neither an ideal representative of the Canadian favourite nor a dish that justifies its RM24 cost. While the Truffle Bechamel Mushroom Samosas are even pricier at RM26 (for four big pieces), they're arguably more convincing, served steaming-hot, with a thin, light crisp that yields pleasurably to an aromatic, earthy milkiness.

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